Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won't Let Go of It

Seems par for the course since our adaptive immune system is based on an old viral/transposon recombinase.

Transposon Molecular Domestication and the Evolution of the RAG Recombinase

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6494689/

Here is the actual study:

Escape of the BC200 gene to a human poxvirus reveals its persistent transposition in primates

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aeh3441

This brings a whole new meaning to sores. Has this infection been previously identified? Edit: Yes https://www.cdc.gov/molluscum-contagiosum/about/index.html

I guess it just hadn't been linked to human genes before.

this head line has the wrong end of the stick, the gene in question is a known transposable element AKA a jumping gene, so no a virus didnt steal a gene.

A transposable element partook of vertical gene flow to a conspecific expression system.

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/new-type-human-jump...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transposable_element

Gift link since people were complaining about the NYT paywall - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/science/virus-molluscum-h...

This must be microbe awareness day.

Earlier iirc someone posted

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cancer-infections-9.7361622

Can't read through the paywall

Ah yes, the NYT paywall.

Here you go everyone: https://archive.ph/PpKtR

Can we please start banning articles with paywalls from being posted at all?

If I cannot read without a subscription (or a damn paywall removed), it shouldn’t be posted here. This is tantamount to posting an ad for an NYT sub.

Looking forward to the alex jones take on this /s

There was no theft involved. "Genes" are not "owned".